Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 and YOU

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 edition, was released on January 31, 2011 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). You can expect to see educational materials and graphics related to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 start to appear in the spring of this year.

In the meantime, there are 6 compelling messages that you can start to take action on today!

Balancing Calories

1) Enjoy your food, but eat less.
2) Avoid oversized portions.
Bell Peppers = 3 Guiding Stars

Foods to Increase

3) Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
4) Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.

Foods to Reduce

5) Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread and frozen meals – and choose those with lower numbers.
6) Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

Remember Guiding Stars can help — fruits, vegetables, fat-free and low-fat milk all receive stars. Use the Food Finder to help you locate soups, breads, and frozen meals with Guiding Stars – they will be more nutritious and lower in sodium. And last but certainly not least – make water your beverage of choice! When you break the Dietary Guidelines down into simple key messages, they are understandable and easy to follow.

About our Nutrition Expert

Lori Kaley MS, RD, LD, MSB is a member of the Guiding Stars Scientific Advisory Panel. Lori has 30 years of combined experience working in healthcare and public health creating policies and environments to help families and children have access to healthy foods and beverages. She is currently Policy Associate at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service.

Lori’s greatest achievement and joy has been in raising her three daughters to be healthy and productive young adults, each with their own particular love of food, cooking and being physically active. Lori’s passion for nutritional community outreach has been a cornerstone of the Guiding Stars Scientific Advisory Panel. Lori regularly contributes to the Guiding Stars blog.